Elias a



( MOdeL) -SEALE;

HEEL.

Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

W Jr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIAS A. SEALE, OF BRENVTON, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ALABAMA METAL\VHEEL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,359, dated October28, 1890.

Application filed March 13. 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIAS A. SEALE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brewton, in the county of Escambia and State of Alabama,have invented a new and useful Wheel, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has relation to improvements in metal wheels for vehiclesof all classes, though especially designed to be employed in theconstruction of light road buggies and carriages.

Among the objects of the invention are to obviate the employment andnecessity of a tire, to lighten the spokes and in fact the entirestructure as a whole, to improve the manner of connecting the spokeswith the hub and band and so mount the same as to draw from the hubtoward the rim, to deaden any ring of the spokes, and to provide animproved connection between the hub and spokes, and a means forcontinuously oiling the bearings.

With the above general objects in view the invention consists in certainfeatures of construction, hereinafter specified, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a Wheelconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical circumferential section. Fig. 3 is a transversesection. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 2, portions being brokenaway. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the inner end of one of themetal spokes.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the rim, illustrating a modifiedconstruction thereof. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the preferredconstruction of rim.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures ofthedrawings.

In practicing my invention I employ a cylindrical box 1, provided withthe two bearing portions 2, intermediate which is the annular channel 3.The box 1 at its inner end is provided with the axle embracing band orflange 4, and at the juncture of the band and box with thelaterally-disposed annular flange 5. The opposite end of the box'isexterior-1y threaded, as at 6, and over the same there is mounted adust-cap 7, which also performs the double function of an oil-reservoir,and

Serial No. 343,730. (No model.)

for the purpose of receiving the liquid lubricant is provided beyond theend of the box with an oil-port 8, having a threaded plug 9 removabletherefrom. The interior of the cap is provided with a screw-thread 10,for engaging the threads 6 upon the exterior of the box 1, and at itsinner end the cap is provided with an external angular surface 11,adapted to receive and provide a bearing for an ordinary wrench, bywhich, as will hereinafter appear, the hub-sections are securely boundin position.

The hub proper is preferably cast in two circumferentially-dividedsections, and each of said sections consists of acylindrical shellcentrally bored, as at 12, and between its inner and outer peripheriesannularly grooved, as at 13, thereby forming an outer and inner annularflange 14 and 15, respectively. This groove and flanges occur upon theouter face of each of the shells, as is apparent. The shells are securedtogether by simply drilling through the bottoms of the grooves andinserting transverse dowels or rivets 15. (See Fig. 4.) By this meansthe two sections constitute a single and apparently integral shell,though for the purpose of casting with convenience I form them asdescribed.

The inner and outer flanges of each of th shells are provided withradially-disposed spoke-receiving sockets 16, which sockets are outerbase or tread 1S, perfectly flat and being formed by the base of thetriangle. In this instance I do not employ any further guard for therim; but the rim 17, being formed of metal, serves the double functionof a rim and also of a tire. Instances, however, will occur in which itis desirable to employ tires principally for the purpose of deadeningthe sound caused by the metal wheel, for which rubber is usuallyemployed. To meet such contingencies, therefore,I have illustrated inFig. 6 a slightly-modified construction of rim, whereby the same isadapted for the reception of such sound-deadening tire.

19 represents a rubber tire, preferably of elliptical shape incross-section and its longer diameter being somewhat less than the widthof the rim 17, which rim has its periphery provided with a shallowgroove 20, conforming to the shape of the tire and at its edgesprojecting beyond the sides of the tire, as at 21, thereby serving thepurpose of protectingflanges, so that when the wheel strikes upon theedges of stones or other obstructions calculated to abrade the same therim or flanges 21 will take abrasion or deflect the stone out of thecourse of the wheel. In the modified construction I provide the shallowgroove or channel 20 with outwardly-projecting lugs 22, which lugscorrespond with and take into cavities 23, formed in the inner surfaceof the rubber tire. The rim 17 is formed right angular in cross-section,so as to reduce to a minimum the amount of metal therein,while at thesame time to avoid sacrificing the strength and rigidity of the rim. Therim is formed in a single piece, the ends being lapped and welded, as iscommon in metal rims.

24 represents the spokes, also of metal, and from points near theirentrance into the hubsocket to points near their entrance in therim-socket, said spokes in cross-section are of diamond shape, as shownin Fig. 5. The diamond-shaped spoke is possessed of many advantages. Thelength of the diamond is disposed laterally, so that an extremely goodefiect is given to the wheel thus constructed. Furthermore, the spokesare tapered, so that they are thicker or heavier at their bases or innerends. The diamond shape alsopossesses the advantage of an economy in thematerial used and induces likeness, as by practical experience I havefound that a spoke of this shape possesses all the rigidity and strengthof a cylindrical spoke the diameter of which is equal to the greatestwidth in crosssection of the diamond-shaped spoke, so that, as will beapparent, a great saving of metal, and therefore cost andv weight, iseffected. The outer extremities of the spokes are reduced to formthreaded tenons 25, which tenons enter threaded sockets 26, formed inthe rim at intervals, said sockets being formed in what would be theangle of the triangle.

27 represents a series of rubber sleeves, which are sprung over the endsof the spokes, and fitting the upper portions of the threaded tenons areforced again st the inner periphery of the rim, so that they prevent anyrattling section and are reduced from the beginning of the tenon 28 tothe base, so that in vertical or metallic soundissuing from the spokesduring the revolutions of the wheel. The inner ends of the spokes arerectangular in crosstransverse section they are dovetailed andcorrespond with the dovetailed recesses 16 of the hub-sections.

The manner of inserting the spokes in the wheel and placing the sameunder tension is as follows: The outer tenons are threaded in thesockets 26 until the inner ends or dovetailed portions 28 of the spokesregister with the dovetailed recesses 16 of the flanges 14 and 15. Thebutts or tenons 28, after being thrown into register with saiddovetailed recesses, are now driven laterally into the same by a hammer.After the spokes have been thus mounted in position the box 1 isinserted through theopening 12 of the hub-shell, and the annular flange5 of said box takes against the series of spokes set into the dovetailedrecesses of the inner shell-section. After this an annular flange 29 isinserted over the end of the box and against the opposite shell-section.The dust-cap 7 is now mounted over the end of the shell or hub, and theinner end of the same binds against the outer face of the annularflange. A large wrench is now applied to the nutted surface of thedust-cap and great power applied to the wrench, by which said dust-capis securely bound against the flange and the flange against thehubsection and the spoke-tenons. This completes the construction of thewheel, and the axle is mounted in the same in the usual manner, thedust-cap serving the function also, and as before stated, of anoil-reservoir, and being partially or wholly filled with oil thelubricant is gradually fed to the interior of the hub, and I thusobviate the necessity of any frequent removal of the wheels from theaxle for the purpose of oiling the same.-

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isf 1. In a Wheel, thecombination, withahubsection. having its opposite faces provided withdovetailed recesses, said recesses having their side walls convergedtoward their outer ends, and a rim having threaded spoke-sockets, of aseries of spokes, the outer ends of which are reduced to form threadedtenons for engaging the sockets of the rim, and the opposite ends ofwhich terminate in dovetail-shaped butts or tenons fitting the recesse'sof the hub-section, substantially as specified.

2. In a metal wheel, the combination, with the hub, rim, and a series ofmetallic spokes removably connected with the rim at their outer ends, ofrubber sleeves, as 27, mounted on the spokes at their junction with therim, substantially as specified.

3. The box 1, having the bearings 2 and the integral flange 5, and atits opposite end exteriorly threaded, as at 6, in combination with thehub-section, the opposite faces of which have dovetailed recessesradiating therefrom, the spokes 24, having the dovetailed butts ortenons 28 entering the recesses, the rim 1?, having the threaded opening26, the spokes being tenoned and threaded, as at 25, for entrance intosaid sockets, the removcesses 16, the outer flanges being reduced, ofable annular flange 29, and the dust or bindthe spokes terminating attheir inner ends in ing cap 7, threaded on the box 1 and havinggradually-enlarged"butts or tenons, adapted 15 Ehe nutted surface 11,substantially as specito fit the recesses 16, substantially as speci- 5ed. fied. I

4. The combination, in a metal wheel,with In testimony that I claim theforegoing as the central hub-section having a central bore my own I havehereto aifixed my signature in for the reception of the axle, andbetween its presence of two witnesses.

inner and outer peripheries having an annu- ELIAS A. SEALE. to largroove 13, forming inner and outer annu- Witnesses:

lar flanges upon each side of the section, said J. H.-SIGGERS,

flanges being provided with dovetailed re- R. J. MARSHALL.

